These Two Politicians Lost Their Bids for the White House. But They Still Changed History.

William
Lambers partnered with the UN World Food Programme on the book Ending
World Hunger. His writings have been published by the New York Times,
Boston Globe, Cincinnati Enquirer, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Des Moines
Register, Huffington Post and other news outlets.

Bob Dole (left) and George McGovern dedicated their careers to fighting hunger at home and abroad (Dole photograph collection)

As
this presidential election season begins, let's take a moment to look
back at past campaigns. The history books will show how former
senators George McGovern (1972) and Bob Dole (1996) each won their
party nominations for President.

Both
men ultimately lost their bid for the White House in the general
election. Dole is retired now and McGovern passed away in 2012. But
their story is far from over.

Both
McGovern and Dole are making a difference today, where it’s needed
the most. Their legacy is felt across the world.

Far
away in Ethiopia there is the threat of famine because of a severe
drought caused by the El Nino weather occurrence. Farmers have been
unable to grow food because of the lack of rainfall.

But
as we speak, children in Ethiopia are getting a life-saver. These are
school meals because of an initiative started by McGovern and Dole.

The
McGovern-Dole Food for Education program, run by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, has made sizable donations to Ethiopia the last
several years. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is distributing this
food.

A McGovern-Dole Food for Education grant was used by the charity Food for Poor to improve the lives of 72,000 school-age children, including providing hot meals in 774 schools in some of the most rural regions of Nicaragua. (photo courtesy of Food for the Poor)

The
McGovern-Dole school meals have been crucial as the drought crisis
has developed. Stephanie Savariaud of WFP says "262,000
children in Afar and Somali regions have food at school" from
McGovern-Dole. These are two regions hardest hit by the drought and
food shortages.

Imagine
you are a family in this drought zone, with food supplies low. You
have to make tough decisions including sending your child to work
instead of school. It might be the only way to get food on the table.

But
then you hear that food is available at school because of this
amazing program from the United States. Now you will send your child
to class.

George
McGovern was very influenced by his experiences serving in World War
II. He witnessed first-hand the hunger in Europe caused by the chaos
of war. Likewise, Bob Dole served in the U.S. army and saw the
horrible effects of conflict.

These
experiences influenced the two men to make fighting hunger a part of
their life.

Both
McGovern and Dole fought hunger at home and abroad during their
careers in the Senate. They helped to improve the National school
lunch and breakfast programs for American children. McGovern
also served as the Food for Peace director, which is the main
American program for fighting hunger globally.

They
set a great example to every member of Congress. They did so in a
bipartisan way. McGovern was a Democrat and Dole a Republican.

And
their impact is not only being felt in Ethiopia today but also in
Guatemala, where drought has also caused food shortages.

Save
the Children is using a McGovern-Dole grant to feed 21,654 children
in 118 schools in drought affected areas. Mauro Tartaglia of Save the
Children says "The drought is badly affecting Guatemala and
other countries in Central and South America."

McGovern-Dole
again are coming through in the neediest of times. The USDA says that
since 2002 McGovern Dole "has benefited more than 30 million
children in 38 countries" with school meals.

But
let's not be satisfied with that. That number should be a starting
point. We should be even more proactive in ways McGovern-Dole could
help during this global crisis of war and drought.

There
are Syrian refugee children in Lebanon that are really struggling
with hunger and poverty. In fact, families will withdraw their
children from school so they can work for money and food.

That
is why Mercy Corps has been setting up school meal programs in
Lebanon. If you can provide food at school parents will send their
children. Depending on the day and location children receive either
chicken, fish, meat, beans or sandwiches and fruit.

Linda
Teto, a kindergarten teacher at Rawdat-al Toufoula School says “Some
of them feel this is their main meal for the day. Their parents
aren’t able to give them this much food. They came from poor
families. They hardly have any money. They can’t provide this much
food.”

The
school meals from Mercy Corps are provided from local sources which
helps even more families in Lebanon. So this is a good program that
could use a big expansion. Why not have McGovern-Dole support the
Mercy Corps plan for Syrian refugee children with school meals?

That
is something the Congress should take up right away as part of its
overall strategy for securing stability in the Middle East.

This
January also marked the five year anniversary of the earthquake in
Haiti. Not only is the country still recovering from the disaster,
but drought has taken its toll. The World Food Programme has been
helping Haiti build a national school lunch program on this road to
recovery. To continue this progress they need McGovern-Dole support.

Lorène
Didier of the World Food Programme in Haiti says "WFP has
submitted a proposal to receive a five years McGovern Dole grant for
which approval is pending." Funding from a previous
McGovern-Dole grant had run out in Haiti. So they need a new one.

McGovern-Dole
funding is limited by how much Congress allocates. So it's not always
assured a program will receive funding. The more funding Congress can
provide the more meals for children worldwide.

We
know from McGovern-Dole how important school meals are in times of
distress. So let's take action.

As
this campaign season gets underway you are going to hear a lot of
talk. That is what elections are about in a sometimes unfortunate
way. But remember, it's men of action that are remembered. McGovern
and Dole are those men whose legacy endures.

And
that is why children in the famine threatened areas of Ethiopia are
having precious meals that will save their life and keep them in
school and learning. That is why millions of other children receive
school meals. And millions more should receive them if we have the
vision and the will like McGovern and Dole.